It was some finish to this one.
2024 Michael Lyng Motors SFC Group 2, Round 1
Bagenalstown Gaels 2-7
Mount Leinster Rangers 1-9
By Stephen Bambrick
Make sense of that then, well here goes!
A most entertaining 2nd half that wasn’t a first cousin of the 1st ending with Bagenalstown Gaels eeking out a very well worked winner.
Akin to finding a drop goal opportunity ‘ with time at a premium, the ball worked to Shane Clarke ‘ in the pocket’ , playing the captain’s part by calmly kicking the winner with the last kick of the game, cruel on MLR who seemed to have claimed a deserved draw seconds earlier via Robert Stafford’s 3rd(and his best ) point of the evening.
With MLR’s attention now having switched to the big ball under Chris Conway following last week’s replayed SHC final defeat they almost had a dream start with Conaill Fitzpatrick’s first minute effort grazing the butt of the Gaels post , their much changed started 15 setting their stall out early.
It was probably understandable that it was the 8th minute before Cian Doyle eventually got the first score of the game with the Gaels also having gone deep in the hurling championship , Eoin Doyle levelling in the 11th minute with a collector’s item , a free of the ground.
MLR were getting chances but not taking them, Bagenalstown Gaels slow to find their feet also on an evening with an Arctic feel weather wise.
Jamie Clarke’s usual work rate was rewarded with the lead point in the 18th minute, it taking their opponents a full 9 minutes for parity, Stafford’s first following Ciaran Cunningham saving smartly seconds previous.
0-2 all it remained until Jack McCullagh’s accurate foot pass gave Oisin Dillon the chance for the lead once more in the 29th minute, the half had reached its 2nd added minute when MLR were provided with a chance of going in level, a free on the 20m line to suit a left footer, Tony Lawlor or Stafford possibly. But stood over it was Eoin Doyle, his dink to the back post finding the inrushing Kevin McDonald to goal, some spot in fairness by Doyle, 1-2 to 0-3 at the break.
The aforementioned Lawlor did get a chance to show his kicking ability, three times in fact by the 37th minute , 2 frees and 1 from play in between, this after Keelan Guidera had both a yellow and black card flashed which meant red. Bagenalstown Gaels now down by 5 and numerically also.
Dillon’s 2nd point narrowed the deficit with recently introduced James Farrell kicking another to leave just a goal between the sides by the 43rd minute, while speaking of goals a piercing trademark Jamie Clarke scything run saw his low drive find the net to level it at 1-5 a piece in the 45th minute.
The Town cheers had barely died down when Paddy McDonnell ducked in behind the MLR rearguard, a clinical finish turning the game on its head in minutes , Stafford’s 2nd point almost immediately suggested more twists and turns were in stor , it was now the Gaels turn to spurn scoring opportunities before another Eoin Doyle free in the 52nd minute left the minimum between the sides, 2-5 to 1-7.
5 scoreless minutes ensued before Kevin McDonald had the sides level once more , credit to the advancing Cunningham for narrowing the angle, his effort just clearing the crossbar, a draw possibly on the cards now you thought.
Cian Doyle had other ideas ( from a free ) in the first of 3 additional minutes for 2-6 to 1-8 , minute 2 giving us Stafford’s booming equaliser, minute 3 from the resultant kick out saw Bagenalstown Gaels stay calm in possession to eventually give Shane Clarke the chance to be the hero breaking MLR hearts in the process , 2-7 to 1-9 the final score
Scorers
Bagenalstown Gaels
J Clarke 1-1
P McDonnell 1-0
O Dillon 0-2
C Doyle 0-2 ( 0-1f)
J Farrell 0-1
S Clarke 0-1
MLR
K McDonald 1-1
R Stafford 0-3
T Lawlor 0-3 ( 0-2f)
E Doyle 0-2f
Subs
Bagenalstown Gaels
J Farrell
L McDonnell
M McDonald
MLR
M Dundon
E Fenlon
J Dalton
Referee – Billy Fanning
